European bison, rescued from extinction by captive breeding, are now reintroduced across several European countries but face welfare management challenges.
Bison in managed reserves receiving supplementary feeding develop human habituation that reduces natural predator vigilance and promotes congregation behaviour increasing disease transmission risk. Overcrowded reserves where breeding herds exceed carrying capacity cause nutritional stress and social competition. Animals in herds where aggressive dominant bulls reduce subordinate male access to food face chronic nutritional deprivation. Translocation between herds for genetic management causes social disruption and establishment stress. The welfare of reintroduced bison depends on management approaches that maintain appropriate wild behaviour.